Title page for ETD etd-04272000-14310037

Type of Document

Dissertation

Author

Bradley, Kevin Wayne

Author's Email Address

kebradle@vt.edu

URN

etd-04272000-14310037

Title

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MECHANISM OF RESISTANCE OF A JOHNSONGRASS (Sorghum halepense) BIOTYPE TO SELECTED GRAMINICIDES IN VIRGINIA AND RESPONSE OF MUGWORT (Artemisia vulgaris) TO SPECIFIC HERBICIDAL AND CULTURAL CONTROL STRATEGIES

Degree

PhD

Department

Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name

Title

Hagood, Edward Scott Jr.

Committee Chair

Brann, Daniel E.

Committee Member

Davis, Paul H.

Committee Member

Foy, Chester L.

Committee Member

Hatzios, Kriton K.

Committee Member

Keywords

perennial weeds

cyclohexanediones

Aryloxyphenoxypropionate

enzyme overproduction

Date of Defense

2000-04-26

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) are both rhizomatous perennial weeds that are capable of rapidly colonizing a variety of different environments. Separate experiments were conducted throughout Virginia from 1996 to 1999 to determine more effective methods for reducing infestations of these perennial weeds in the future. Field and greenhouse experiments conducted on a resistant johnsongrass population discovered in New Kent County, Virginia revealed that this biotype exhibits low levels of resistance to the aryloxyphenoxypropionate (APP) herbicides quizalofop-P and fluazifop-P and the cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicide sethoxydim. Additional laboratory experiments revealed that resistance is not due to differential absorption, translocation, or metabolism of the APP and CHD herbicides in the resistant vs. the susceptible biotype. However, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) assays revealed that resistance to the APP and CHD herbicides is conferred by an overproduction of the ACCase enzyme in the resistant compared to the susceptible johnsongrass biotype. In field experiments conducted on mugwort infestations discovered in several counties throughout Virginia, 100% mugwort control was achieved with standard application rates of picloram at 4 months after treatment (MAT), and also greater than 70% mugwort control was achieved with the higher application rates of clopyralid, glyphosate, and dicamba at 4 MAT. However, all other herbicides evaluated in these experiments provided less than 65% mugwort control at 4 MAT, even at exceptionally high use rates. Additionally, the results from these trials revealed that sequential herbicide applications and sequential mowings prior to herbicide application are both effective mugwort control strategies.